Pool fencing in Reading is the strictest of (a) local Code § 600-1013 - four-foot barrier, four-inch opening max, locking gate - and (b) Pennsylvania ISPSC 2018 § 305 adopted under the UCC - 48-inch barrier, 4-inch sphere test, 2-3/8-inch maximum bottom gap, self-closing/self-latching outward-opening gate with latch hardware at 54 inches. Both apply concurrently and the stricter rule governs each element.
Reading pool owners must comply with two overlapping fencing regimes simultaneously, and the stricter rule controls on each element. Section 600-1013 (local zoning) requires: a permanent barrier or fence not less than four feet in height; no opening with a dimension greater than four inches; a gate that is securely locked when the pool is not in use; for aboveground pools, the pool wall may count as part of the barrier provided the ladder is removable or secured; aboveground pools must sit in rear yards with three feet of perimeter clearance; and hot tubs/spas may use a locking cover in lieu of the fence. ISPSC 2018 § 305 (PA statewide UCC) layers on: barrier top at least 48 inches above grade measured on the side facing away from the pool; the maximum vertical clearance at the bottom of the barrier is 2 inches when the finished ground surface is below grade, or 4 inches when finished ground is level - tighter than Reading's local 4-inch rule; openings in the barrier shall not allow passage of a 4-inch sphere; solid barriers without decorative cutouts shall not contain indentations or protrusions that could be used as a climbing aid; chain-link barriers shall have a maximum mesh size of 1-3/4 inches measured horizontally unless slats are installed; horizontal members on the pool side, if spaced less than 45 inches apart, get additional climb-aid restrictions (mesh < 1-3/4 in or vertical posts only); pedestrian access gates must open outward away from the pool, be self-closing and self-latching, and the release mechanism must be at least 54 inches above grade (or be located on the pool side and shielded). Where Reading allows a 4-inch bottom gap but ISPSC requires 2 inches under certain ground conditions, the ISPSC 2-inch rule governs. Hot-tub / spa covers, to substitute for a fence under § 600-1013, must in practice meet the ASTM F1346 safety-cover standard referenced by ISPSC § 305.5.
Non-compliant fencing is enforced both by the Zoning Officer (§ 600-1013) and the Building Code Official (UCC / ISPSC). Fines up to $1,000 per day under 53 P.S. § 37403, mandatory drain-down, and potential civil liability under the attractive-nuisance doctrine if a child is injured.
Reading, PA
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